Fred Karsch

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious

End of Watch November 4, 1880

Age 36

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 105

Incident

Patrolman Fred Karsch succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he was shot by a suspect while attempting to disperse a crowd. The suspect was apprehended by Patrolman Karsch's partner. The suspect was stabbed to death on Aug. 15, 1883, during an argument with another man at a polling place. Patrolman Karsch had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for more than two years. He was survived by his wife and son. He is buried at Vine Street Hill Cemetery, Hamilton County, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-8DFAACE2
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

146 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Karsch gave the Cincinnati Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Cincinnati Police Department

Location Cincinnati, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 4, 1880

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Stabbed to death in 1883

Patrolman Fred Karsch is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious